Casing catcher



Sept. 15, 1925. 1,553,905

I- J. K. LlVlNGSTON CASING CATCHER original Filed Nov. 17. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR J K. Lzzfz'vysiorg,

A TTORNE YS Sept. 15. 1925.

J. K. LIVINGSTO N GAS ING CATCHER Original Filed Nov. 1'7. 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR (115. Z 5' vi n gslon,

WITNESS A TTORNE YS Y is reached and the well at this time fills Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES JAY KELLY LIVINGSTON, 0F TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

CASING Original application filed November 17, 19$, Eerie tember 29, 1923.

T 0 aZZ whom t may concern-:7

Be it known that I, JAY KELLY LIVING- s'ron', a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and btate of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gasing Catchers, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention relates to a casing catcher.

This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 601,532, filed November 1?, 1922, and particularly relates to the magnetic locking arrangement disclosed in said application.

In drilling oil wells, or the like, the drill ing proceeds as long as possible and then a string of is lowered. Usually the drilling can be continued until a water level witl'i water and drilling must be discontinued. A string of casing is then lowered, said string consisting in a number of casing sections threaded together and each string corresponding in length to the depth of the well. At each time a new water level is reached a string of casing must be lowered, which is equal in length to the depth of the well and adapted to fit within the preceding string of casing.

Also it may be mentioned that in case a well is not productive it is desirable to Withdraw the strings of casing.

When lowering a string of casing it often occurs that the lowering means gives away and the string of casing drops into the well. This necessitates an extensive fishing opera tion in order to remove the casing so that drilling may be continued. Sometimes it is impossible to remove the casing so lost and the well must be abandoned.

Also when a well is non-productive and the strings of casing are being withdrawn therefrom it often happens that the lifting means for the casing breaks and a string of casing is permitted to fall into the well.

With that heretofore recited in mind, it is the object of the present invention to provide a tool or device which may be employed to serve as a means for catching a string of casing or section of a string of casing in case the same drops when being lowered into or raised from a well.

It is also an object of the invention that the tool or device operate entirely automat- CAT CHER.

Serial No. 665,734.

ically for preventing a string of casing or section thereof from falling into a well.

A further object of the invention is that the tool or device be extremely simple in design and construction and durable.

Other objects, and objects relating to. details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts will hereinafter appear in the detailed description to follow.

The invention is illustrated by way oi example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing a tool constructed in accordance with the present invention, and also showing the same when set or previous to tripping thereof;

Figure 2 is a view in elevation and partly in section showing the tool of the present invention when tripped and positioned within the lower end of a string of casing, said casing being positioned within a well;

Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sectional views taken substantially on the lines 33 and 44, respectively, of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional View showing the manner of con necting the uppermost section of the tool with the section therebetween;

Figure 6 is. a detail sectional view show ing the manner in which the dogs supported upon the lower end of the tool are held in their extended position;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but showing the manner in which the dogs are held positively against inner movement with relation to the body of the tool;

Figure 8- is a perspective view of one of the slips employed in connection with the tool structure;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view showing the manner in which the slip shown in Figure 8 is releasably held against upward movement Figure 10 is a perspective view of one of the dogs shown in Figures 6 and 7;

Figure 11 is a top plan view of the electrical locking means employed in the present tool; and

Figure 12 is a view in side elevation of the same.

Referring to the drawings more particularly, V7 indicates generally the walls of a Well and the lower end of a string of casing K is being lowered into the well. Upon Divided and this. application filed Septhe lower end of this string of easing there is threaded the usual shoe S which has its lower end beveled as at 9 in the customary manner.

The tool may consist in a stem comprising four sections, namely, A, B, C and D. The uppermost section A is a tubular memher or nipple threaded at its upper end as at 10 so that the same may be connected to suitable means for lifting the device from a well. Section B is a tubular member, while sections C and D are solid and cylindrical. The section B may have its one end slightly reduced as at 13, and this reduced portion is threaded into the lower end of sec tion A. The section B is threadedly connected to the upper end of section O, and the sections C and D are alsothreadedly connected to each other. The section. A is connected to section B by means of a collar or band 15, said band being interiorly threaded at each end and adapted to receive the threaded ends of the members A and B. Interposed between the abutting ends of the members A. and B is a gasket 16 and a plate 17, the plate 17 being circular as shown and being provided centrally there of with a suitable recess 18 in which packing 19 may be placed. The plate 17 may be provided with a bore extending through the recess 18 and adapted to receive a shaft or rod 20. A suitable passage or bore is provided in each of the members B, C and D, said passages or bores being in alinement with each other and extending the entire length of said members. The shaft 20 is disposed in these different passages or bores.

The lower end of the member D terminates in an exteriorly threaded portion 26 and above this portion there is provided a plurality of flat faces 21 which are preferably four in number and upwardly divergent. Upon each face 21 there is mounted a dog 22, each dog having an inner flat surface adapted to fit upon a face 21 and having a dove-tail rib formed upon its inner side which is adapted to move in a similar groove 22 formed in the associated face 21. The exterior surface of each member 22 is preferably provided with threads, as shown. Upon the lower end of the member D there is threaded a nose or head 23 which is hollow and preferably of the shape shown. The lower end of the rod extends within the member 2; and has secured thereto a ring 25 which is connected to each of the members 22 by a link 26, said links being aivotally connected to the associated member 22 and ring 25, respectively.

The member D also carries at a point adjacent its lower end and immediately above the faces 21 a plurality of lugs 27. Each lug is in the form of a block having its inner end provided with the two divergent faces 28 and an intern'iediate face 29 which is arcuate in cross section. The lower face of each lug is offset to provide a shoulder 30. The lugs are four in number and two of the lugs have formed in their upper face adjacent the outer end thereof a recess 31. Also a side wall of each lug is provided with a groove or recess 32. Each lug is fitted in a suitable opening 33 formed radially of the member D, and a compression spring 3% engages the shoulder 30 of each lug whereby to press the same outwardly. The compression springs 3a are each in the form of a coil spring and positioned in a suitable bore or slot provided in the member l) as illustrated to advantage in the drawings. In order to limit the outward movement of the lugs 27 a screw 35 is extended through the member D, one for each of the lugs, and said screw having its inner end disposed in the slot 32 of the associated lugs.

At a point adjacent the lower end of the member B there is provided a pair of diametrically opposed offsets or notches 36, each offset being adapted to receive a slip or dog 36. The preferred form of the slips is shown in the drawings, and as seen each dog has its inner face formed with a dovetail rib 36 adapted to move in a similar groove 36", formed longitudinally of the section C. A. pair of springs 37 are provided for each of the dogs 36 and adapted to urge the same upwardly. Each such dog 36 has its outer face rougl'iened as shown. F or each dog there is provided a rod 39 which extends longitudinally of the section C and disposed in a groove extending longitudinally of this section. A suitable pin 39" is used for each of the rods whereby to hold the same against displacement from the associatet groove. The upper end of each rod is formed with a lateral extension 89 which is adapted to engage in a notch 39 formed upon the lower end and under face of the associated slip 36, while the lower end of said rod is disposed in the recess or socket 31 of the associated lug 27. Adjacent the up per end of each rod there is positioned a coil spring 39 which is adapted to press this end of the rod outwardly. lVith the lugs 27 depressed the rods 39 will engage in the notches 39 of the slips 36 and hold said slips in the lowered position, as illustrated in the drawings, and against the tension of the springs 37. Upon the lugs 27 moving outwardly the upper ends of the rods 39 will be forced to move inwardly and thus release the slips 36 so that they may move upwardly under the tension of the springs 37. The purpose of this operation will later be more fully described.

The bore within the member or section D through which the shaft passes is enlarged adjacent its lower end and adapted to receive a sleeve 39. A coil spring 40 is positioned within the bore and beneath the sleeve, said coil spring encircling the rod 20 and being adapted to urge the sleeve upwardly. The rod 20 is formed with a bulge or enlargement which is adapted to engage the sleeve 39- and limit the movement of said sleeve upon said rod.

The member C has its upper end portion formed with an enlarged bore and within this bore there is disposed a coil s1; ing 42 which encircles the rod 20 as shown, and which is held against upward movement upon the rod 20 by the means of a collarli-5, said collar being secured to the shaft 20 in any preferable manner.

l v ithin the section B there is positioned aplate 44-, said plate being secured to the upper end of the section G by means of screw bolts or the like, and having a central opern ing as at 45, through ,which tire stem 20 may pass. Upon this plate there is positioned an electrically operated lock generally indicated by the reference character L, which has catch niiember l5 adapted to engage a notch in the rod 20, as illustrated in the drawings, and thereby to hold the rod depressed against the tension of the springs l0 and 42. A suitable dry battery B or one cell or more, if desired, may be placed upon the plate at and suitably held by a split sleeve l6 which is formed with a securing flange l7 and secured to the plate 44 by means of screws or the like, as at 48. The plate let is als provided with a post 49 which is encircled by a spring 50, and said spring being positioned adjacent the lower end of the post. Upon the spring 50 there is positioned a sleeve 51 and adjacent the upper end of the post there is secured a collar 52 which is insulated from said post, as shown in the drawings. The collar 52 may be connected through a wire 53to one binding post of the lock L and the other binding post 55 out the lock L may be connected through a wire 56 to the binding post of the battery B as at 57. The other binding post 58 ol the battery B may be grounded as at 58. As is obvious, upon the sleeve 51 engaging the collar 52 an electric current will he established through the lock L for operating the same and thereby to release the rod 20.

Tn the use of the present device, assuming that it is intended to lower a string of easing into awell, the tool is poistioned in the lower end section oi the string of casing and the lugs 2'? brought to engage beneath the shoe S of the string of casing. This tool may be extended into the lower end of the string of easing; that is, the same may be positioned in the lower end of the first section of casing to be lowered. W hen positioning the tool the lugs are depressed against the springs 53% and the rods 39 are arranged so that they hold the slips 36 in their depressed position the shoe S.

and thereby permit the tool to be inserted into the casing K ithout ditliculty. Upon the tool reaching the position shown in Figure 9, the lugs 27 are released, whereupon the rods 39 will be released at their upper ends so that the slips 36 may move upwardly against the tension of thesprings 37. illl'ien in this position the slips retain the tool against downward movement. The string of easing may now be lowered and should the lowering means break and the string of casing begin to fall, theinertia of the sleeve 5i, accentuated by the tendency of the spring 56 to expand, would cause the sleeve 51 to moveupwardly, engage the collar 52 and thereby establish an electric current for operating the lock L and in this way releasing the rod 20. Upon the rod 20 being released the same will move upwardly and carry therewith the dogs 2:2 which will engage with the wall of the well as illustrated in the drawings, and prevent further downward movement of the string of easing. Also during the upward movement or the rod 20 the sleeve 39 is permitted to proceed upwardly and move so that the same is disposed at the rear of the lugs 27 and thereby prevent further inward movement of said lugs. The lugs will then engage The string of casing will be held within the well and suitable means may be engaged with the upper end thereol whereby to raise the same. Upon slightly raising the casing then a suitable tool may be in erted in the string oli casing so that the rod 20 may be depressed to again return the dogs 22 to their original position and now the continuing of the low ring oi the casing may be proceeded with. Upon the casing being entirely lowered the head 23 will engage with the bottom of the well, and due to the fact that the lugs 27 may be easily depressed, the pressure of the casing shoe S against these lugs will depress the same and permit the tool to be shoved upwardly into the casing. The threads or roughened exterior surface of the slips 36 will not interfere with the upward movement of the tool. These slips in tact serve only for the purpose of preventing downward movement of the tool. The tool will in this way be grounded upwardly and then a suitable means may be lowered into the casing and the tool withdrawn.

Assuming that it is desired to raise a string of casing from the well, the tool may be inserted in the lower end of a casing in order to prevent loss or the same, that is, to prevent dropping of the casing in case the lifting means should break. The string of casing to be lifted should be slightly raised and then the tool lowered to the lower end of this string of casing. The lugs 27 should be depressed so that the slips 36 will likewise be depressed and in this way permit easy lowering of the tool. Upon the lugs 27 reaching the lower end of the easing the same will distend and simultaneously therewith the rods 39 will be released to permit the slips 36 to move upwardly and thus engage the side of the casing. The tool will be held against further downward movement by the slips 36. Any suitable means may now be attached to the string of casing and the same may be lifted from the well. the casing to drop the lock L will be again operated to trip the tool and in this way the dogs 22 will be brought into engagment with the sides of the well and hold the string of casing against further downward move ment. In case that another string of casing is within the well the different walls of this string of easing will be engaged by the dogs 22 in the same manner as these dogs engage the walls of the well to sustain the string of casing being withdrawn.

Vhile I have shown and described the preferred form of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I am aware of the fact that the construction, combination and arrangement of parts may be changed by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, an electrical look, a source of current supply, a member supported by a spring, a stationary member above the first named member, and connecting means whereby upon the first named member moving into engagement with the stationary member an electric current will be established for operating said lock.

2. In a device of the character described,

Should these means break and permit a post, a coil spring encircling said post, a sleeve movable upon the post and resting upon said coil spring, an insulated stationary member above said sleeve, a source of electric current supply, and connecting means whereby upon the sleeve engaging the stationary member an electric circuit may be established.

3. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit including a source of our rent supply, a movable member adapted to rebound upon being subjected to a jar, and means whereby the circuit will be closed upon said movable ,membe-r reaching its highest point during the rebound thereof.

4. In a device of the character described, an electric circuit including a source of current supply, a movable member adapted to rebound upon being subjected to a jar, means whereby the circuit will be closed upon said movable member reaching its highest point during the rebound, thereof and an electromagnetic lock adapted to be actuated upon said electric circuit being closed.

5. In a device of the character described, an electrically operated releasing device and circuit therefor, a source of current supply, and means adapted to be actuated by quick downward movement of the device for closing said circuit.

6. In a device of the character described, an electrically operated releasing device and circuit therefor, a source of electric current supply, a movable member and means nor mally sustaining the movable member whereby with quick downward movement of the sustaining means the movable member will move upward, and means whereby the movable member will close the electric circuit when moving upward a certain degree.

MRS. JAY KELLY LIVINGSTON. 

